Coke oven battery for coking wet coal and operation thereof



Nov. 22, 1949 1.. WILPUTTE ETAL COKE OVEN BATTERY FOR COKING WET COAL AND OPERATION THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1946 INVENTOR Lpu/tte Frans Wet/11y III! III III/l Louis W 0* w ms ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1949 1.. WILPUTTE ETAL ,953

COKE OVEN BATTERY FOR COKING WET COAL AND OPERATION THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1946 INVEN 0 Louis WJ TMQ Frans We 1, BY 2f 5 ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1949 L. WILPUTTE' ET AL 2,438,953

CQKE OVEN BATTERY FOR COKING WET COAL AND OPERATION THEREOF Filed March 25, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1949 assess:

OFFICE Y COKE OVEN BATTERY FOR COKING WET COAL AND OPERATION THEREOF Louis Wilputte, New York, and Frans wens, Manhasset, N. Y., assignors to Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation, a corporation of New York 7 Application March 23, 1946, Serial No. 656,748

1 Claim. (01.202-36) This invention relates to a process of charging and poking wet coal in a coke oven battery; By wet coal" is meant coal containing more than 5% by weight of moisture; wet coal usually con-' tains from 6% to 8% moisture, in some cases, the moisture content may be as high as 10%.

In our application, Serial No. 655,398, flied March 19, 1946, we have disclosed and claimed a process for coking either wet or dry coal in a coke oven battery, each of the coking chambers of which battery has at least three charging openings in the top thereof, spacedfrom each other different distances, dependent on the taper of the coking chamber, and so as to divide the chamber into portions equal in number to the number of charging holes and of substantially equal volumetric capacity, each of the charging openings having the lower portions thereof flared, in combination with a pair of collector mains, one at each side of the battery in communication with the coking chambers, which collecting mains are designed to be operated so that cool gas from one of the mains is passed through the gas collecting spaces of coking chambers in advanced stages of coking, and then into the other main, thereby cooling these gas collecting spaces and preventing formation of roof carbon.

The coke oven of our copending application, having two collector mains, and constructed and arranged for circulation of cool gas from one main through the gas collecting spaces of the coning chambers in advanced stages of coking, is particularly applicable to the coking of dry coal, which when charged evolves large volumes of gas, and which tends to form roof carbon during the coking operation.

This application is directed to the coking of wet coal in a coke oven battery of somewhat simpler design than that of our copending application in that it involves a collecting main on one side only of the battery. We have found wet coal can be efiiciently coked with elimination of the smoke nuisance in such battery.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a process for coking wet coal in a coke oven battery of such simple design and construction, in the practice of which process:

(1) The smoke nuisance during charging is eliminated, i. e. throughout the period a coking chamber is charged with coal, the volatiles evolved durin charging have an unobstructed escape path along the top of the chamber into the atmosphere;

(2) Charging of the coking chambers is effected without spillage of coal on the top of the battery;

(3) Fewer strokes of the leveler bar are required to level a charge of coal, thereby resulting in a substantial saving in time required for efiecting each chargin operation;

(4) Formation of more uniform coke results; and

(5) Better working conditions result, particularly for the persons working on the tone! the battery.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing, for purposes of exemplification, preferred forms of this invention without limiting the claimed inven-/ tion to such illustrative instances:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a coking chamber of a coke oven battery in which the process of this invention may be carried out;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanical charger shown in elevation in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the battery of Fig. 1, the section being taken in a plane disposed longitudinally of the battery;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the battery showing a modified form of mechanical charger which may be employed for charging coal to the coking chambers; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken in a plane extending crosswise of the battery through the top portion of a coking chamber having four charging holes therein and showing the disposition of coal in the coking chamber when charged into the chamber and before leveling.

In accordance with the present invention, the charging holes are disposed at spaced points in .the top of the coking chamber relative ,to the taper of the coking chamber, so that the volumetric capacities of the portions or sections of the coking chamber communicating with the charging holes are substantially the same. These charging holes are provided with cut-backs or flared outlets at an angle of from 40 to 50, preferably 40 to 45, to the vertical, thereby increasing the spaces in the coking chambers where the coal may accumulate without reaching the top of the chamber, so as to form an obstruction to flow along the top of the chamber. Substantially equal volumes of the coal are fed from a location not below the coking chamber roof simultaneously from at least three substantially equal volumetric masses of the coal positioned above the coking chamber at a rate in excess of gravity flow to form piles in the coking cham- 3 bar which are more uniform in density than the piles produced by gravity flow chargers; and the meeting lines of which always occur in substantially vertical planes and in the same places. It will be appreciated the piles will necessarily vary in density from bottom to top, the denser portion being at the base of the coking chamber, but this variation in density is compensated for in the heating of the charge since combustion of the gas commences at a level ator near the base of the charge. Each of the hoppers of the mechanical charger contains an amount of coal such that all the coal will flow into the coking chamber from the hoppers without forming any trapped gas pockets and without requiring the operation of the leveler bar to bulldoze or otherwise move a portion of the coal charged into the chamber, to permit all the coal from the hoppers to flow into the cokingchamber. A collector main is employed, communicably connected with the coking chambers, into which collector main, gas evolved during charging escapes through the free gas space at the top of the coking chamber being charged, thus eliminating the smoke nuisance. A single collector main has been found adequate to accommodate all gas evolved during charging of a coking chamber with wet coal. If dry coal is being coked the coking time should be such that the coal is coked at a rate less than 1 per hour to avoid or minimize formation of roof carbon.

Referring to Fig. l, 25 indicates a coking chamber of a coke oven battery consisting of alternate horizontal tapered coking chambers and heating walls having regenerators and supported on a suitable foundation above a basement space, as shown, for example, in Pavitt Patent No. 2,155,954, of April 25, 1939. Since the present invention is concerned chiefly with the design, construction and operation of the upper portion of the battery, the disclosure herein will be confined to this portion of the battery. It will be understood the lower portion of the battery may be of any known construction such as the under-jet type shown, for example, in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,155,954. Each coking chamber '25 of the battery has in the roof 2 thereof, three charging holes 21, 28 and 29. These charging holes are spaced apart distances such that the volumetric capacities of the portions or sections 30, 31 and 32 of the coking chamber therebeneath are substantially equal.

To accomplish this, the spacing of these-charging holes takes into account the taper of the coking chamber. For a chamber having the following dimensions:

Overall length, 42' 1 and Length between doors, 39' 5" Height, l and "K Pusher side width, 16 and Coke side width, 20 and 3" the optimum spacing of the charging holes to compensate for oven taper is as follows: The axis of charging hole 21 spaced 8' 6" from the pusher side of the battery; the axis of charging hole 28 spaced 13' 6 from the axis of the charging hole 21; and the axis of charging hole 29 spaced 12' 7%" from the axis of charging hole 29 and 7' 6" from the coke side of the battery. This spacing results in portions 30, 31 and 32 of the coking chamber communicating with each of the charging holes 21, 28 and 29, respectively, being of substantially equal volumetric capacities.

The invention herein disclosed is applicable to any coke. oven battery having three or more charging holes. As a practical matter, it has been found most economical to construct the battery so that even coking chamber has either 3 or 4 charging holes. The formula:

'L n in which:

it weight of coking chamber in feet in average width of coking chamber in feet I length of coking chamber in feet 11. number of charging holes gives the volumetric capacity of each portion of a coking chamber communicating with a charging hole of a battery embodying this invention. The charging holes should be so located that planesparallel to the sides of the coke oven battery and passing in a longitudinal direction through the battery mid way between adjacent charging holes divide the coking chambers into portions each having a capacity in cubic feet equal to approximately the capacity calculated in accordance with this formula. It will be understood that the advantages of this invention may be obtained. but to a somewhat lesser extent, by having relatively small variations in the capacities of the respective portions of each coking chamber communicating with each charging hole, for example, as contrasted with present coke oven design, in which one such portion has a greater volumetric capacity than another, this invention includes a spacing of charging holes in relation to the taper, which results in a maximum variation of 10%. preferably not more than 5% in the volumetric capacities of the portions of the coking chamber communicating with the charging holes. The expressions substantially equal capacity, or substantially like amoun used herein and in the claim's, are intended to include variations in capacities and amount which may differ by as much as 10%.

Each charging hole 21, 28 and 29 has its lower portion undercut in a direction parallel to the length of the coking chamber, 1. e. crosswise of the battery, as indicated by the reference character 33, to form a flared discharge outlet and to materially increase the eifective height of the coking chamber for receiving coal during charging. The angle of the wall defining the undercut portion to the vertical should be within the range of 40 to 50, preferably 40 to 50". Thus capacity of the coking chamber for piles of coal without the piles reaching the top of the chamber and forming gas pockets is increased substantially. By having the angle of the undercut portion within the range stated, it has been found no material weakening of the roof of the battery takes place.

Disposed at one side of each coking chamber is a gas off-take 34 which leads into the uptake pipe 35 communicatin with a collector main 36 disposed at one side of the battery. The collector main 36 leads to the by-product recovery system.

As conventional, the ends of the coking chambers are provided with door closures 31 and 38, door 38 being provided with a leveler door opening 38 adapted to be closed by a leveler door and through which opening the leveler bar 40 may be moved to level the charge, as more fully explained hereinafter.

The charging ofthe coking chambers should be eifected by a mechanical charger, which feeds the coal from each hopper at a controlled rate preferably are 8 to form a charge of more uniform density except for the meeting lines of the piles, which meeting lines should always occur at the same place. Two types of such mechanical chargers are shown, but it will be understood that any other type of mechanical charger may be used. In the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a mechanical charger is employed consisting of a carriage 44 provided with wheels 45 arranged to travel on tracks 46 disposed on the roof of the battery. Mounted on the carriage are three hoppers 41, 48 and 49 as shownin Fig. 1, each of which hoppers contains a mass of coal. These three hoppers "thus, establish substantially equal volumetric masses of coal above the coke oven chamber when the carriage 44 is in charging position. At the bottom of each hopper is disposed a rotating plate 50 having ribs (Fig. 2) thereon, which causes the coal to travel with the rotating. plate 50 so that it is brought into contact with the plow 52. This plow effects discharge of the coal through a chute 53 leading into a retractible sleeve 54 arranged to be lowered into position to bridge the space between chute 53 and a charging hole when it is desired to charge a coking chamber and arranged to be raised to the position shown in Fig. 1 after the charging has been completed. Operation of the chutes may be efiected by the lever mechanism indicated collectively by the-reference character 55. A cab 56 is mounted on the carriage 44; the

operating mechanism for actuating the motors 51 (Fig. 2) which drive the carriage and actuate the lever and other mechanism of the larry is disposed in this cab. Since cal feeder, as above indicated, represents but one well-known type of larry, it is believed further description thereof'is unnecessary.

In Fig.4, a modified form of mechanical charging or force feeding device which may be employed is shown. Parts of Fig. 4 which function in the same manner as those of the larry shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 have been given the same reference characters. The modification of Fig. 4 differs from that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 chiefly in that instead of a rotating plate for effecting feed of coal to and through the discharge chute, the modification of Fig. 4 involves a vibrating pan-type of feeder. In this modification, a vibrating pan 60 is mounted beneath each hopper and communicates with the discharge chute 53. An electrical vibrator 6| is associated with the pan 60; when the vibrator 6| is energized, coal is fed at a uniform controlled rate from the hopper with which the pan to is associated through the pan into the discharge chute 53 from which it is delivered to the coking chamber. A heat insulating shield 6| is disposed beneath vibrator 6| to protect it from the heat emanat ing from the coking chamber when the charging hole covers are removed.

Each of the hoppers of the larry contain charges of coal equal to that amount of coal formed beneath the charging hole with which the hopper may be placed in communication. The amounts in each hopper, when charging a three-charging hole opening, as shown in Fig. 1,

substantially equal. The invention, however, includes a construction and operation in which the hoppers contain unlike amounts of coal, but not exceeding variations in excess of 10% by weight, provided, however, the amounts are such that (a) when the hoppers are empty, piles are formed which leave a gas space in the coking chamber communicatin with n...

this type of mechanigas collecting main, which gas space provides an unobstructed escape path for gas into the collecting main; and (b) all the hoppers may be emptied during the same time interval.

This coal is fed from these hoppers by the rotating plate 50, or vibrating pan 60, as the case may be, at a controlled rate in excess of gravity flow, so that the hoppers are simultaneously emptied. With the charging holes undercut or flared and positioned as shown, it has been found that the complete charge may be introduced, formin three piles in the case of a three-charging hole coking chamber, without requiring use of the leveler bar to bulldoze portions 01' the coal from beneath the charging hole openings.

The meeting planes of the three piles of coal thus formed is indicated by the reference characters 62, 63 and will be found to occur in a vertical plane, and always in the same places. This .mode of charging results in a saving of time in filling the coking chamber and in that less leveling is required. When charging with the usual types of charging cars, six strokes of the leveler bar have been required to level the charge, whereas only two strokes have been found necessary to level the coal charged as hereinabove described. It is believed that the four additional strokes detrimentally affected the density of the coal in the coking chamber, resulting in non-uniform coking. Since the meeting lines between contiguous piles of coal occur always in the same position, the fiues in the heating walls, opposite where these meeting lines occur, may be supplied with an increased quantity of heating gas to compensate for the increase in density of the coal in the areas indicated by the meeting lines 62, 63, thus resulting in more uniform coking of the charge. Likewise, the end fiues may be supplied with an increased amount of heating gas to compensate for the increased density of the coal at the ends of the coking chamber.

Each of the hoppers I1, 48 and 49 of the larry, as above indicated, carries an amount of coal to form the desired pile of coal in the coking chamber, and the entire amount of coal in these hoppers is required to form the coal charge in the coking chamber. Since once the larry is spotted in position over the charging holes and the sleeves it dropped to bridge the space between the charging chute 53 of the larry and the charging holes, the entire coal charge flows into the coking chamber and no spillage of coal on the top of the battery takes place. In prior charging procedures, on the other hand, coal remains in the charging hoppers after commencement of the charging and fills the charging holes. Volatiles evolved dring charging collect'in the spaces between the charging holes near the top of the chamber, and as the charging continues a pressure builds up in these spaces sufiicient to cause these volatiles to flow through the charging holes with consequent spillage of coal on the top of the battery.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that when the hoppers have been emptied, the piles of coal formed in the portions 30, 32 of the coking chamber do not reach the roof of the coking chamber, but gas spaces 64, 65 and 66 are formed about the top of the piles of coal. At no time during the charging are there any obstructions in the top of the coking chamber to hinder the flow of gas evolved during charging into the collector main .36. In other words, no trapped gas pockets are formed; the undercut portions of the charging holes 21. 2B

and QB without leveling and also the undercut or flared portions associated with charging holes 21, 29 provide free passages 84, 65 and 66, respectively, for the escape of gas into the collector main 86.

Fig. shows a modification having in the top portion of each coking chamber, four charging holes 10, ll, 12 and II, the gas off-take 14 communicating with a collector main 15. The longitudinal centerline of the battery is indicated by 16. Fig. 5 shows the preferred spacing of four charging holes, to compensate for the taper of the coking chamber and to form portions of substantially equal volumetric capacity. By so spacing the charging holes and having them undercut or flared as shown, four piles TI, 18, I9 and 80 of coal of substantially like amount are formed without requiring any leveling, none of which piles is of height to obstruct the gas space at the top of the coking chamber, the total amount of coal thus introduced forming the desired charge, with-' out sacrifice to the amount of coal coked in each chamber. The meeting line 8! between the piles 11, 18, the meeting line 82 between the piles I8, 19 and the meeting line l3 between the piles I9, 80, when the coking chamber is charged in accordance with this invention, as hereinabove described, using a mechanical charger, the hoppers of which contain amounts of coal just sufllcient to produce the piles indicated, always occur at the same relative positions within the coking chamber, so that more heating gas may be supplied to the lines in the localities of these meeting lines, to compensate for the increased density of the coal in these localities. It will be noted the tops of the piles of coal are spaced from the undercut portions of the charging holes, providing a free escape path for gas evolved during charging to the offtake 14.

In operation, each of the hoppers of the larry is provided with a charge of wet or dry coal of substantially like amount, required to form the desired piles in the coking chamber, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, which piles are formed by emptying the hoppers. The piles, it will be noted, leave a free space at the top of the chamber through which volatiles evolved during charging may escape into the collector main 3G. The larry containing such charges of coal is spotted over the coking chamber to be charged, the charging hole covers removed, the sleeves 54 lowered into position, and the mechanical charger actuated to deliver the charges at a controlled rate so that all hoppers are emptied during the same time interval, usually of the order of one minute or less. The sleeves 54 are then elevated and charging hole covers replaced. The leveler bar 40 is passed through the top of the coking chamber, making the necessary pass or passes, usually two passes, to level the charge.

It will be noted that fewer strokes of the leveler bar are required in leveling a charge, resulting in a substantial saving of time in effecting each charging operation. Further at all times during the charging, a free escape path for gas evolved during the charging into the collector main is provided, thus eliminating the smoke nuisance. Since the charging is effected without any spillage of coal and without creating a. smoke nuisance, the working conditions for the men at the top of the battery are substantially improved. Furthermore, since a coal charge is produced of more uniform density throughout, except (a) in the locality of the lines where the piles of coal meet, which lines always occur in substantially the same place, and (b) at the ends or the coking chamber, by compensating for the increased density of the coal in these areas by supplying more heating gas to the flues heating these areas, more uniform coke results.

. By the expression force feeding used in the claims, is meant the feeding 01' coal by a charger which delivers the coal to the charging openings at a controlled rate, dependent upon the rate of coke oven chamber.

movement of the feeding device, such, for example, as the rotating plate 50 or the vibrating pan 60 of the mechanical chargers of Figs. 2 and 4, respectively, and as distinguished from charging the coal by causing it to flow by gravity from the hoppers through the charging openings.

Since changes may be made without departing from the scope'of the invention, it is intended that the above description should be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

A method oi. charging a. coke oven chamber with wet coal containing more than 5% by weight of moisture, which comprises, establishing at least three substantially equal volumetric masses of said wet coal above said coke oven chamber, force feeding from a location not below said coke oven chamber roof substantially equal volumes of said wet coalsimultaneously from each of said masses at a rate in excess of gravity flow into said coke oven chamber at a plurality of points selected to divide said coke oven chamber into substantially equal volumetric sections, each of said sections being individual to and fed from one of said masses, the total volume of the masses of coal thus fed forming the complete charge introduced into said coke oven chamber, being sufficient to substantially completely fill said coke oven chamber except for a gas collecting space extending the full length of said coke oven chamber, and always permitting the free passage of gas across the upper portion of said coke oven chamber, thereafter leveling the piles of coal thus fed into the coke oven chamber with not more than about two strokes of a leveler bar, and withdraw, ing gas from one end only of the gas collecting space during the feeding of said coal into the LOUIS WILPUTTE. FRANS WETHLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,227,518 Crossen May 22, 1917 1,312,301 Becker Aug. 5, 1919 1,312,372 Van Ackeren Aug. 5, 1919 1,410,447 Becker Mar. 21, 1922 1,633,911 Van Ackeren June 28, 1927 1,664,649 Van Ackeren Apr. 3, 1928 1,618,801 Becker July 31, 1928 1,752,363 Becker et al. Apr. 1, 1930 1,785,750 Van Ackeren Dec. 23, 1930 1,814,184 Pavitt July 14, 1931 1,846,071 Van Ackeren Feb. 23, 1932 2,014,400 Still Sept. 17, 1935 2,018,664 Fitz et al Oct. 29, 1935 2,382,810 Otto Aug. 14, 1945 2,402,592 Becker June 25, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Porter, Coal Carbonizatlon, The Chem. Catalog 00., 1924, pages 183, 184, 129, 130.

Certificate of (Zorrection Patent N 0. 2,488,953 November 22, 1949 LOUIS WILPUTTE ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 33, for coning read coking; column 4, line 4, for the word even read each; line 53, for preferably 40 to 50 read preferably 40 to 45; same line, after Thus insert the; column 6, line 58, for dring read during;

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

